The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs following multiple off-field issues within the last month. On May 30, he was guilty of two misdemeanor counts of second-degree animal cruelty. Seventeen days later, he was booked on burglary and domestic violence charges.
While the authorities in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, initially allowed him to post bail for the animal cruelty case, they canceled it after the domestic violence/burglary charge. Buggs is at the Tuscaloosa County Jail after being booked last week.
After playing two seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Buggs in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He lasted only three seasons with the Steelers after being released on January 8, 2022. Nine days later, Buggs signed with the Las Vegas Raiders but did not pass the practice squad.
We have released DT Isaiah Buggs.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 24, 2024
The Detroit Lions signed him during the 2022 offseason and earned a two-year, $6 million extension the following year. However, the Lions released him two days after their 2023 regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
After his release from Detroit, the Chiefs signed him and made him part of the practice squad when they won Super Bowl 58. Buggs has 89 tackles, four passes defended, two sacks, and a forced fumble in 56 games over five seasons.
Buggs’ legal troubles are among the several off-field issues that Chiefs players faced this offseason. Rashee Rice is facing nine counts of various criminal charges after getting involved in a six-car crash last March in Dallas. The accident led to injuries for at least seven people. Meanwhile, Chukwuebuka Godrick and Wanya Morris were arrested in Johnson County, Kansas, for charges of possessing marijuana.
-Lance Fernandez